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Lagos – a brief overview

Nigeria’s largest city Lagos is home to some beautiful beaches, interesting markets and friendly people. Straddling a chunk of coastline and a pair of nearby islands, the city is a beguiling blend of chaotic markets, tropical sunshine and a glittering business district – much of it funded by Nigeria’s impressively prolific oil industry.

Away from the skyscrapers, most of which are to be found on Lagos Island, the city is home to several interesting museums and galleries, as well as the old slave port of Badagry, which was founded by the Portuguese in 1452.

Top 10 sights in Lagos

Badagry

Badagry Nigeria Show on map

Just outside Lagos is Badagry, known locally as ‘The Point of No Return’, which was founded by the Portuguese in 1452 as a slave port. Although many of the buildings are decrepit, the town offers an interesting insight into the transatlantic slave trade.

Lighthouse Beach

Lighthouse Beach Lagos Nigeria Show on map

One of Lagos’ nicer beaches, Lighthouse Beach is a glittering golden stretch of sand overlooked by a 110-year-old lighthouse and with good views of the container ships easing into the main port.

DIDI Museum

Set within a private home, the DIDI Museum was founded in 1983 by Dr Newton Jibunoh to provide a platform for traditional Nigerian art. The main collection includes paintings, sculpture and photography, as well as some unusual snaps of visiting heads of state.

Tafawa Balewa Square

Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos Nigeria Show on map

Lagos’ central square is home to some impressively large monuments, among them a series of gigantic horses and touching memorials to the Nigerian soldiers who died fighting for the UK in WWI and WWII.

National Museum

Awolowo Road Lagos Nigeria Tel: +234 1 263 6005 Show on map

Opening times: Daily 0900-1700

This fascinating museum charts Nigeria’s history from prehistoric times to the modern day. Among the star exhibits are the ancient Nok Terracottas and a huge collection of ivory crowns, as well as the bullet-ridden car in which military ruler Murtala Mohammed was gunned down in 1976.

Lekki Conservation Centre

A picturesque stretch of wetland just outside Lagos, Lekki was set aside by the government for local wildlife in 1987. Raised walkways allow you to see crocodiles, monkeys and huge flocks of colourful birds up close.

Kalakuta Republic Museum

The former home of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, this quirky museum is dedicated to the life and times of the great man. Along with a complete discography, it contains scores of his personal possessions.

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Country information

Country overview

Nigeria is blessed with hundreds of miles of coastline, national parks and fascinating ancient sites.

Geography

Nigeria has borders with Niger to the north, Chad (across Lake Chad) to the northeast, Cameroon to the east and Benin to the west. To the south, the Gulf of Guinea is indented by the Bight of Benin and the Bight of Biafra. The country’s topography and vegetation vary considerably.

The coastal region is a low-lying area of lagoons, sandy beaches and mangrove swamps, which merges into an area of rainforest where palm trees grow to over 30m (100ft).

From here, the landscape changes to savannah and open woodland, rising to the Central Jos Plateau at 1,800m (6,000ft). The northern part of the country is desert and semi-desert, marking the southern extent of the Sahara.

General knowledge

Key facts

Population: 169 300 000

Population Density (per sq km): 174

Capital: Abuja.

Language

The official language is English. A variation of English (Pidgin English) is also spoken. The three main Nigerian languages are Yoruba, Ibo (also spelt Igbo) and Hausa; another 400 languages are also spoken in the country.

Electricity

General business opening hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1600 (government offices); 0830-1700 (private businesses). However, offices in the northern states may close at 1300 as Muslim workers may take part in prayer services at 1400; business resumes after this.

Public holidays

Listed below are the public holidays for the period January 2020 to December 2021.

Note

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given below are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Id el Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Id el Fitr itself. Id el Fitr and Id el Kabir may last up to several days, depending on the region.

Al Basha

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Calendar of events

Music Festival Lagos

March 2020

Venue: Golden Tulip Festac Lagos

First held in 2013, this popular music festival is already well on its way to becoming one of Nigeria’s must-do events. Bringing together artists from different generations, the festival showcases the best of Nigerian music, from stars with 50-plus years’ experience to youngsters breaking into the music scene.

Lagos Fashion and Design Week

Nigeria’s fashion industry is under the spotlight in this glitzy event. Eye-catching, cutting-edge designs are paraded along the catwalk in a series of glamorous runway shows. Fashionistas can also browse the hottest new trends in showrooms jam-packed with the latest textiles, clothing and accessories.

MUSON Festival

Organised by The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), this classical music festival showcases the outstanding MUSON Choir and Nigeria’s only professional orchestra, the MUSON Symphony Orchestra. Indigenous music, jazz tunes and musical theatre are also thrown into the mix in a dynamic 10-day programme.

All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.

7 days forecast

Climate & best time to visit Nigeria

Varies from area to area. The southern coast is hot and humid with a rainy season from March to November. During the dry season, the Harmattan wind blows from the Sahara. The north’s rainy season is from July to September. Nights can be cold in December and January.

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Flight and accommodation

Shopping in Lagos

Key Areas

Although most of Lagos is dotted with street stalls and hawkers, the main action happens in the city’s many markets, where you can buy everything from crafts to pirate DVDs to vintage clothes (much of which comes from Western charity boxes). Jankara Market is the biggest and, along with dodgy DVDs, houses an interesting fetish market. Elsewhere, Lagos is home to several malls, among them the modern Silverbird Galleria – the best place to look for stylish things to wear.

Markets

Jankara Market (near Adeyinka Oyekan Avenue) is the biggest and best and sells a mind-bogglingly large array of food, clothes, crafts and knock-offs. Lekki Art Market (inside the Lekki Conservation Centre) is brilliant for local art and sculpture.

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Traveller etiquette

Social Conventions

Shaking hands with everyone is customary on meeting and departing. In Yorubaland, it is a sign of respect for women to curtsey when introduced and to enquire after relations, even if this is a first meeting. Unless the visitor knows someone well, it is unusual to be invited to a Nigerian’s home. Most entertaining, particularly in Lagos, takes place in clubs or restaurants. A small gift of appreciation is always welcome and business souvenirs bearing the company logo are also acceptable. Casual wear is suitable and a lightweight suit and tie are only necessary for businesspeople on formal meetings; on most other occasions men will not need to wear a jacket, although a tie might be expected.

Women should dress modestly, and respect local customs regarding dress, particularly in the Muslim north.

It is inadvisable for women to wear trousers. There are over 250 tribes in Nigeria, the principal groups being the Hausa in the north, the Ibo (or Igbo) in the southeast and the Yoruba in the southwest. The larger of the minor groups are the Fulani, Idoma, Igala, Igbirra, Kanuri, Tiv and Nupe in the north; the Efik, Ekoi, Ibibio and Ijaw in the east; and the Edo, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo in the west. A result of this ethnic variety is the diversity of art, dance forms, language, music, customs and crafts. Nigerians have a very strong sense of ethnic allegiance.

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Health

Food & Drink

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

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Visa & Immigration

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.